Hypospadias (hy-po-SPAY-dee-us) is when the tube that carries pee out of the body (the urethra) opens on the underside of the penis, not at the tip. Boys who have the condition are born with it.
In hypospadias, the opening of the urethra, called the meatus (say: mee-AT-us), may be anywhere along the underside of the penis. Sometimes, this can cause problems such as:
Hypospadias is a common birth defect in boys. Surgery usually fixes it permanently.
All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts.
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